| One of the best things in Costa Rica is to go on one | | | | such as howler monkeys, snakes and birds. Of course |
| of its rain forest and wildlife vacations. Despite the | | | | it's not a surprise that mostly tourists visit the cloud |
| country's small size, Costa Rica's area encompasses | | | | forest to get a glimpse of the Resplendent Quetzal. |
| highly reputable biological reserves, refuges and | | | | The quetzal is known as the most spectacular bird in |
| national parks. Its rainforests consists of hundreds of | | | | the new world and also for its magnificent plumage. It's |
| various species known to man. The rainforest houses | | | | seen more frequently from December through June in |
| exotic flora and fauna and is one of Central America's | | | | the Costa Rican rainforests so avid bird watcher's |
| bio-diverse countries with 10, 000 different classes of | | | | should definitely take note of the quetzal peak |
| species. | | | | seasons. |
| The Monteverde is one of the most outstanding and | | | | The Costa Rica rain forest is also said to contain the |
| popular Costa Rican rainforest destinations. A small | | | | Emerald Toucanet also known as the endangered |
| town in Puntarenas, Monteverde is also known as | | | | Bellbird. The bellbird is another exotic species of birds |
| "Green Mountain" in Spanish and known to contain the | | | | that bird watchers wouldn't want to miss. This green |
| country's largest wildlife reserve. Despite how arduous | | | | mid-sized bird with a blue colored throat is visible in |
| its trail can be for tourists, it has become part of the | | | | higher elevated wet forests usually on top of tree |
| Costa Rican tourist trail. It's said to contain the | | | | canopies. |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest which attracts more than | | | | Another famous reserve called the Santa Elena Cloud |
| 70,000 tourists and visitors yearly. It is called a cloud | | | | Forest Reserve borders the Monteverde |
| forest or fog forest rather than a rain forest because | | | | Conservation area in the Cordillera de Tilaran of |
| of the moist that's created due to its high altitude. The | | | | Central Costa Rica. Its 765 acres of land was originally |
| cloud forests are known to have abundance in | | | | leased by the Santa Elena Community High School of |
| mosses that's why most of the trees and ground are | | | | Monteverde which was then developed into a cloud |
| considered mossy. | | | | forest reserve back in 1989. This reserve is considered |
| The 10,500 hectare of the Monteverde Cloud Forest | | | | cloudier and wetter compared to other reserves |
| made it the largest reserve in Costa Rica and is a | | | | because of its higher altitude. The Santa Elena |
| perfect example of what Costa Rica nature can offer | | | | community developed the reserve because of their |
| to the world. This private sanctuary was discovered | | | | determination to preserve the beautiful environment |
| and created by George Powell and Quaker Guindon | | | | surrounding them. Tourism is then used as a means to |
| who were both scientists exploring the rainforests in | | | | maintain the preservation of the cloud forest. Though, |
| Costa Rica. Also famous for housing 500 species of | | | | the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve receives lesser |
| orchids in the world with 34 of these just newly | | | | visitors, it features a great view of the Lake Arenal |
| discovered. It's considered home to various species | | | | and Arenal Volcano. |